Endoscopy 2012; 44(06): 565-571
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291664
Original article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A pilot study to assess mediastinal emphysema after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection with carbon dioxide insufflation

Y. Maeda
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
D. Hirasawa
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
N. Fujita
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
T. Obana
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
T. Sugawara
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
T. Ohira
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
Y. Harada
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
T. Yamagata
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
K. Suzuki
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
Y. Koike
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
Y. Yamamoto
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
Z. Kusaka
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
,
Y. Noda
Department of Gastroenterology, Sendai City Medical Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 26 June 2011

accepted after revision 28 December 2011

Publication Date:
09 March 2012 (online)

Preview

Background and aims: Mediastinal emphysema sometimes develops following esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) without perforation because the esophagus has no serosa. Carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation during esophageal ESD may reduce the incidence of mediastinal emphysema. The aim of the present study was to compare the incidence and severity of post-ESD mediastinal emphysema in patients receiving CO2 insufflation vs. standard air insufflation during esophageal ESD.

Patients and methods: A total of 27 patients who had undergone esophageal ESD with insufflation of CO2 between July 2009 and March 2010 were enrolled in this study (CO2 group). Another 105 patients who had undergone esophageal ESD with air insufflation between March 2004 and May 2009 were included as historical controls (air group). Multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) was carried out immediately after ESD. A conventional chest radiograph was taken the next day. Mediastinal emphysema findings on MDCT and radiography were compared between the groups.

Results: Mediastinal emphysema detected by chest radiography was 0 % in the CO2 group vs. 6.6 % in the air group (n.s.). Mediastinal emphysema on MDCT was significantly less frequent in the CO2 group compared with the air group (30 % vs. 63 %; P = 0.002). The severity of mediastinal emphysema also tended to be lower in the CO2 group.

Conclusions: Whereas mediastinal emphysema detected by radiography is not so common, MDCT immediately after ESD revealed a certain prevalence of post-ESD mediastinal emphysema. Insufflation of CO2 rather than air during esophageal ESD significantly reduced postprocedural mediastinal emphysema. CO2 can be considered as insufflating gas for esophageal ESD.